Former premier Michael Dunkley has said he has stepped away from the political frontline in the wake of the One Bermuda Alliance’s “crushing” loss at the polls.

While Mr Dunkley said he will continue to represent his constituency in the House of Assembly, he has told interim party leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin that he does not want a shadow portfolio.

He also acknowledged the OBA had not done enough to support black Bermudians, noting that race had played a big part in last Tuesday’s General Election, which his party lost to the Progressive Labour Party by 24 seats to 12.

Mr Dunkley said he made the decision to step down as party leader soon after the results came in, explaining that he hoped the move would “clear the air” and allow the party to do what it needed to do to move forward.

“I made the decision myself early that morning at my kitchen counter,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“It was the right thing to do and I didn’t consult with anyone at that point. I just wrote the e-mail to the party chair and copied in very few other people.

“I made it very clear to the chair at that time that there is really no consolation in a loss like that, but the people of Smith’s North still had confidence in me and voted me in, and I gave my commitment to work as hard as I can to continue to help Smith’s North and Bermuda.

“But I also said that I would be there as a senior statesman in the caucus room to at all times express what is on my mind and support the team.”

However, he said he at no point considered stepping down as an MP, saying: “Having won the seat, the last thing on my mind was deciding not to go forward, despite the crushing defeat of the party. That’s not character.”

Last week’s General Election was Mr Dunkley’s second as a party leader, after the United Bermuda Party’s defeat PLP in 2007, when he lost his seat to Patrice Minors. Asked if he took the losses personally, he replied: “Those two elections were tough, but here in Bermuda you don’t vote for a president.

“When people go to the polls, I don’t think people in 35 [other] constituencies around the island were going in saying they were voting for or against Michael Dunkley. They are voting for a candidate.

“I was the leader in 2007 when we lost, but I had also just taken over when the [UBP] was at an all-time low and I got the party back into a reasonable position. This time I came into that position in a very tough period, and I will hang my head very high for the fact that the country is in a better position today.

“Of course it would be great to win. Nobody wants to lose. The fact of the matter is we did a lot of positive things and there were some things we could have done better.

“I’m certainly not going to hold my head down and bemoan the things that took place.

“I think people will look at legacy. I think in five or ten years’ time they will look back and say those guys got a crushing defeat, but they helped to turn the island around.”

Since the election, he said he has enjoyed being able to spend more time with his family, and has been working to return dozens of messages of support he has received from members of the public, but added that he is looking forward to returning to the House.

He said the OBA needs to reflect on the election results, and said of Ms Gordon-Pamplin: “I feel that she is well respected in the community.

“She certainly has the experience that is required, and I know from our time we served together around the cabinet table that she has a good understanding of all the issues and I believe that she will be able to help us move forward, but it’s going to take a concerted effort by all of us involved in the organisation and we have to get new people involved.

“One thing I heard all the time is we were out of touch with people, and to some extent that might be correct, but to another extent I don’t believe that’s a valid argument.

“It’s up to us to dispel that myth, get out there with people and do what we have to do.”

He added that one comment he has heard repeatedly is that the public are tired of the “bickering” in politics, saying: “They want decisions made that will move the country forward. I don’t care who I’m working with to get it done, we just have to get it done and I will work until I decide to retire with all of the energy and commitment that I have, but I want to see results. I’m here to support, not undermine, but I will be vocal when I have to be.”